Ireland has introduced a temporary travel concession allowing eligible foreign residents to use expired Irish Residence Permit (IRP) cards for international travel as authorities work to clear a backlog in residence permit renewals.
The measure is expected to provide relief for thousands of international workers, students and families whose permit renewal applications remain pending because of prolonged processing delays.
Announced on Wednesday, the concession will remain in effect until August 31.
Under the arrangement, foreign residents whose IRP cards have expired may continue to travel and re-enter Ireland, provided they submitted their renewal applications before their permits expired and uploaded all required supporting documents.
Eligible travellers must carry their expired IRP card, a printed Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) travel notice, proof of their renewal application and, where applicable, a valid employment permit.
Explaining the decision, the Irish authorities said the temporary measure was introduced to ease travel concerns for residents who need to leave the country for work, family commitments or holidays while awaiting renewed residence permits.
Officials noted that the concession became necessary because renewal processing currently takes between seven and 17 weeks, leaving many applicants unable to travel while waiting for updated documentation.
The authorities also warned that the concession will expire on August 31, after which expired IRP cards will no longer be accepted for travel or re-entry. Airlines have been advised to recognise the ISD travel notice alongside expired IRP cards throughout the concession period.
The announcement comes as Ireland continues to grapple with a backlog in residence permit renewals that has persisted since late 2025, with some categories, including Stamp 4 holders, experiencing processing delays of up to 17 weeks.
In addition, the government recently introduced 32 reforms to its employment permit system aimed at addressing labour shortages across key sectors, including construction, healthcare, transport, agriculture and specialist services.